BALI UPDATE #337 - 03 March 2003

'Self' – An Exhibition by Rama Surya

Award Winning Indonesian Photographer at the Paros Gallery through 17 March.

Rama Surya, the award-winning Indonesian photographer takes a penetrating look at the meaning of "Self" in an exhibition of photos by that name at the Paros Gallery in Sukawati, just north of Denpasar, through March 17, 2003.

The exhibition presents intimate studies of the people of Bali actively involved in the preservation of their culture within the context living in two worlds - a traditional culture striving to persevere while existing in the modern age. Among those Balinese photographed for the exhibition include writer Ketut Suwidja; painters and artists Made Budhiana and Made Wianta; the late religious and community activist Ibu Gedong; political activist Putu Suasta; and dancer Panji Tisna. Rama Surya attempts to capture on film the personal journeys of these and others in their search for "self."

Rama Surya has contributed to a large number of international publications including Galeri Foto Journalistik and Latitudes. He was named "Photographer of the Year" by Germany's fotoMAGAZINE in 1998. His touring photo exhibition in 2000 on the destruction of the Borneo rain forest - Borneo: Airmata Api (Borneo: The Tears of Fire) met with overwhelming critical acclaim.

Rama Surya recently contributed the photography for a book "Bali Living in Two Worlds" published in 2002 under the auspices of the Museum der Kulterel in Basel, Switzerland.

President to Open PATA Bali Conference

Ibu Megawati Soekarnoputri Confirmed to Welcome More than 1,000 Delegates to Bali Conference.

The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Conference to be held in Bali April 13-17, 2003, will be officially opened by Indonesia's President Megawati Soekarnoputri. The confirmation of the President's participation was made by Mr. Setyanto Santoso, the Chairman of the Indonesian Host Committee for the Conference and Chairman of the Indonesian Culture and Tourism Promotion Board.

Estimates on the number of people expected to attend the conference range from 800 to 1,500 people, with Mr. Steyanto calling on the Indonesian travel industry to show their support by registering for the Conference. Indonesian participants are being offered a 50% discount of the conference registration fee to help stimulate participation by members of the cash-strapped local travel industry.

President Carter Not to Attend

Earlier reports that former U.S. President and Nobel Prize Laureate, Mr. Jimmy Carter would address the Bali PATA Conference are now being discounted.

Although an invitation was sent to Mr. Carter, other commitments prevented him from accepting the invitation issued by the organizers of the Bali conference.

Overseas Tourism Promotion Poorly Coordinated?

Industry Leaders Call for Greater Professionalism in Overseas Tourism Marketing.

Leaders in Indonesia's tourism industry are complaining about a lack of coordination by the Government in the overseas promotion of tourism and a failure to fully involve the private sector in current promotional activities.

The Chairman of the Jakarta branch of the Association of Indonesian Tour Companies (ASITA), Herna P. Danuningrat, complained to the Indonesian-language Bisnis Indonesia that the current tendency is for the private and public sectors to go their own separate ways in the promotion of national tourism. "It's ironic that many of the policies being issued by tourism official are incorrectly targeted, rendering promotions pointless as they fail to achieve the stated target for inbound tourism," she told the newspaper.

To support her point, Herna pointed to the choice of countries targeted for tourism promotion and the large number of government representatives included in overseas promotion trips. Claiming that the tax contribution to the Government from air tickets alone from travel agents in the Jakarta region exceeds US$ 542 million each year she said "it's therefore reasonable if a portion of that money is used for tourism promotion by the private sector."

Another tourism manager quoted in the same article described how many inbound travel agencies have lost tour groups following the Bali bomb attack. Some agencies, especially those depending on overland bus tours, have been very hard hit by cancellations.

Rudiana, a manager at Wita Tour said that "it is as though the Government is fixated on Bali's recovery and continues to involve itself in programs of its own design without any consultation with the tourism industry players who truly understand the intricacies of the travel market."

The Blessing of Putu Jagger Marcus Nichols

A Balinese Blessing for a Pint-Sized Visitor from Michigan.

Leslie Marie Neilson operates a store in Boyne City, Michigan (U.S.A.) called Bali and Beyond that sells only handicrafts and decorative accents produced on the island of Bali. Trained as a micro-biologist, she's put her scientific career on the back Bunsen burner, while she embarks on a second career developing a line of Balinese merchandise for her store and soon to be launched website. First introduced to the charms of Bali and Indonesia over 15 years ago by an Uncle who lives in Bali and edits the Bali Update, Leslie vows that "absolutely nothing" will stop her from her yearly buying trip to Bali to replenish stocks for her store.

It's best to take this lady at her word: some time ago she spent her honeymoon in Bali and this year she packed her husband and infant son Putu onto an airplane, ignoring forboding travel advisories issued by the U.S. Department of State.

Introducing Putu Jagger Marcus Nichols

Just over two months old when his mother trundled him off on his first trip to Bali, Putu, a name signifying the first-born in Bali and bestowed upon him by his Bali-based Uncle, these three intrepid travelers arrived just in time to undergo a traditional Balinese Tigang Sasih or Nelu Bulanin ceremony to mark the third month of his life.

In accordance with local tradition, Putu's all-important first rite of passage was held at Villa Abian Tirta - his Uncle's home located just north of Sanur.

The Tigang Sasih marks a baby's formal introduction to the world, the very first day on which his or her feet are permitted to touch the earth.

Special offerings or sesajen are prepared and placed on three different levels reflecting the Balinese tripartite cosmos and the commitment to Tri Hita Kirana: the need for man to be in harmony with God, the world, and his fellow man.

A sesajen jejangan comprised of cooked rice, prepared foods, and small leafy plants was used to represent young Putu's entrance into the natural world and the many gifts that nature bestows on man.

A sesajen sambutan containing uncooked grains of rice, coconut and three different colors of thread – red, black and white was also prepared. The threads are symbolic of the Hindu trinity of Tri Murti: the red thread signifying our connection to the Creator Brahma; the black thread for Wisnu the Protector; and the white representing Siwa the Perfector who destroys in order that we might rebuild again in our never-ending quest for perfection.

Another offering, symbolizing the child and made from woven strands of palm leaf, heralded the arrival of the five essential elements of soil, water, fire, wind and the atmosphere. These five basic building blocks of the Universe were summoned to unite in the creation of an individual whose muscles will possess the strength of strong wire surrounding bones with the density of good steel.

The sesajen kumara, symbolizing Putu's soul and comprised of two small mounds of cooked rice, were placed to repose in his bed. Another offering, sesajen ari-ari representing Putu's placenta "brother" from whom he was separated at birth was laid at the foot of his bed.

The ceremony began with Paul and Leslie being asked to hold in turn a stone, an egg, charcoal, and a pumpkin representing four spiritual siblings of Putu. The heart of a banana plant, symbolizing the child, was wrapped in cloth and presented with necklaces, bracelets and baubles. These items were sprinkled with holy water and dusted with flour by the attending Priest. The family was then asked to circle around a water container into which money was placed together with Putu's symbolic siblings, later placed at a distance removing the child from any inherited original sins or misdeeds. Before this was done, however, the cloth, necklaces, bracelets and baubles were removed and given to Putu to wear.

Then, newly adorned in his Balinese costume and jewelry, and safe in the arms of his Mother, Leslie, and witnessed by his Father, Paul, baby Putu was sprinkled with sacred waters gathered from a Balinese temple while mantra's spoken in ancient Balinese and dedicated to Surya Raditya - the Sun - were offered for his future safety.

More holy water was then sprinkled on Putu's head, given to him to drink, and washed across his face to ensure that he becomes a man of pure thought, word and deed. To further ensure his purity and future safety, leaves of alang-alang grass, red flowers, and the leaves of the chrysanthemum plant together with the threads of three colors were placed on his head and forehead. Then, Leslie and Paul were similarly blessed, purifying them for the tremendous responsibility of parenthood that lies ahead.

Finally, the Upacara Tigang Sasih for young Putu ended with drinks and food for all those on hand to witness his introduction to the world. And on the menu, of course, some of the food offerings just blessed by the gods.

Judging from the photos accompanying this story at www.balidiscovery.com, both Putu and his Parents, Paul and Leslie, are most truly blessed.

Remains of Bali Bomb Attack Cremated

Slowly, Remains of all the October Bombing Victims are Laid to Rest.

On Saturday, March 01, 2003 some 185 body parts belonging to the victims of the October 12^th terror attack on Bali were cremated at the Mumbul Cemetery, located just off the road connecting Bali's airport and the Nusa Dua area.

The body part were formally released by the Disaster Victim Identification Team responsible for forensic identification of the bombing fatalities. 43 remaining body parts continue to be housed at the Sanglah General Hospital (RSUP) morgue, pending final disposition by the investigating authorities.

In accordance with local tradition, permission to conduct the cremation was also sought from the interment authorities of the Bandung Regency under whose jurisdiction the RSUP falls. On Friday, the day before the cremation ceremony, prayers were offered in a Hindu ceremony held in Pakrama Village presided over by three Hindu priests.

The remains, placed in two wooden caskets wrapped in white cloth, required approximately two hours each to be rendered into ashes that were then transported to the Padang Galak's Sunrise Beach area of Bali and scattered into the sea.

The cremation ceremony was attended by the local public as well as local government officials and representatives from foreign consuls with offices in Bali.

Police authorities now estimate 202 people lost their lives in the bombing outrage.

The Borneo Cup

International Lawn Bowl Championship Comes to Bali March 14-16.

The Bali International Lawn Bowls Club has been selected to host The Borneo Cup 2003 from March 14 -16, 2003.

The Club, located in the Nusa Dua Complex opposite the Grand Hyatt Hotel, will represent the first International Lawn Bowls tournament played in Indonesia with teams from Malaysia, Labuan, Sabah, Sarawak, Brunei, West Kalimantan and Bali competing.

Both men's and women's divisions will comprise the over 90 players plus officials and dignitaries who will visit Bali in connection with the competition.

The Bali International Lawn Bowls Centre was opened in the year 2000 by Australians, John and Belinda Same, who have fallen in love with the island and are committed to develop championship level play of the popular lawn game to their adopted home.

More information: Bali International Lawn Bowls Club Web Site

Everything But the Kitchen Sink

Lux Coporation Meets in Bali and Donates Cash, Washing Machines, and Water Purifiers to Bali's Relief Efforts.

Lux - a well-known manufacturer of household appliances, chose Bali and the Sheraton Laguna Resort for a meeting for 100 of its top international executives in the third week of February 2003.

The Directors of the Lux Asia-Pacific Conference marked the close of their conference in Bali by making a donation of US$ 2,000, a washing machine, and a water purifier to the Bali Hope Fund - a charity established by Casa Grande to assist the victims of the October 12^th terrorist attack. Casa Grande is the association of starred hotels in Bali.

The Lux executives made the decision to hold their conference in Bali in order to share the magic and beauty of the island with their co-workers while at the same time demonstrating to the world their confidence in Bali as a safe and peaceful destination for international tourism. Once Lux had arrived on the island and safely enjoying its world famous hospitality, they decided to also make the tangible gift to help alleviate the suffering resulting from the October attacks.

In the picture shown are (left to right) Mr. Franklin Pattikawa - Lux Indonesian Sales Director; Mr. Richard Bussiere - Managing Director of Sheraton Laguna & VP, Area Managing Director Starwood Indonesia receiving the donation on behalf of Casa Grande; Mr. Per Thuresson - Managing Director, Mr. Achim Schawanitz - Chairman of the board Lux Asia Pacific and Mr. Kristian Borglin - President CEO Lux Asia Pacific.

Arifin Darmawan Farewells Hyatt

Respected Bali Hotelier Joins Banyan Tree Group in Thailand.

Declaring his "mixed emotions" at leaving both Bali and the Hyatt Corporation, the hard working and well-respected Director of Marketing of the Grand Hyatt Resort has accepted the challenge of his first General Manager's position with Banyan Tree's Allamanda Laguna Resort in Phuket, Thailand.

Mr. Darmawan first joined the Grand Hyatt in August of 1992 as a Sales Executive, quickly climbing the ranks until his appointment as Director of Marketing for Hyatt Resorts Bali, a role incorporating responsibility for both of Hyatt's properties in Bali.

In saying "good-bye" to a company and an island he's called home for the past 11 years, Arifin said he will miss Bali's "exotic island, unique culture, hospitable people ... where he learned a lot about the challenges of working in a cross cultural environment."

More information: Send Arifin Darmawan an E-mail

Another Airline Bali Bound?

Australian Airlines to Fly to Bali by Late July 2002.

Australian Airlines the low-cost, no-frills regional carrier owned by Qantas, is about to embark on a period of rapid route system expansion, including the addition of a Sydney to Bali and Melbourne to Bali service by late July 2003.

The addition of two new Boeing 767-300's bring the airline's fleet total to six aircraft. New services are also planned between Cairns and Sydney, complementing their current service of 30 weekly flights to six region destinations in Asia and Australia.

Australian Airline will initially operate three flights each week between Sydney to Bali and once each week from Melbourne to Bali.

Australian Airline's commenced flight operations in October of 2002.

Islands Too Numerous to Count

Indonesia's Official Island Count Revised Upwards.

Indonesia Digest, the prestigious weekly e-mail newsletter published by Strategic Communications, reports that Indonesia's official island count continues to grow.

According to Mr. Hatta Radjasa, Indonesia's Minister of Research and Technology, the countries total island inventory now stands at 18,110. An increase of 3.4% over the old "official" count of 17,508 emerald isles, and a whopping 39% more than an earlier island count of 13,000.

Can islands reproduce? Or, is this some sinister proof of an ongoing plot to expand the territorial boundaries of Indonesia?

In fact, modern satellite imagery studied by Indonesian geographers have confirmed the new, higher island count. Those same studies now estimate the Country's shore line's length at 108,000 miles, an increase from the earlier estimate of 80,000 miles.

Sadly, the latest satellite pictures also reveal a degradation of the reefs surrounding the nation's islands, now down by some 60%.

One question remains unaddressed by the latest tally of total islands falling within Indonesia's national boundaries: Was the Count made at low or high tide?